Ohio Sen. JD Vance has intensified his criticism of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's military career, alleging that Walz avoided serving in Iraq by leaving the Army National Guard and running for Congress in 2005.
Walz, who retired two months before his unit was alerted for deployment to Iraq, is facing attacks on his military background as both parties aim to shape the public's perception of the relatively unknown governor following his selection as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate.
Both Walz and Vance, the vice-presidential candidates, are military veterans, a contrast to their running mates. Walz served in the Army National Guard for 24 years before retiring in 2005 and later successfully ran for Congress in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District.
During a campaign event in Michigan, Vance accused Walz of abandoning his unit before their deployment to Iraq in 2006, highlighting a key point of contention in their upcoming debate.
Walz officially retired from the Army National Guard in May 2005, with the unit receiving alert orders for deployment to Iraq in July of the same year, two months post his retirement. The unit mobilized in the fall of 2005 to prepare for deployment and eventually deployed in March 2006 for a 22-month mission, the longest continuous deployment during US operations in Iraq.
It is noted that Walz had filed candidacy paperwork for Congress in February 2005, further adding to the timeline of events surrounding his military service and political aspirations.
